Bagor茅 Bathily opened Senegal鈥檚 only fresh milk production company in 2007, capitalizing on the fact that 30 percent of the population lives off cattle rearing. Hundreds of cowherds have earned more income.
After learning that many poor people lack basic furniture in their homes, Mark Bergel founded the nonprofit A Wider Circle in Maryland to tackle poverty.
Cora Bailey is the founder of an animal shelter in Johannesburg, South Africa. Many of its neighbors are undocumented migrants who rely on the shelter for services they cannot 鈥� or are too afraid to 鈥� seek out from the government.
Bogaletch Gebre cofounded an organization that鈥檚 credited with virtually eliminating female genital mutilation in the part of southern Ethiopia where she grew up. A key reason for the organization鈥檚 success has been its focus on 鈥榗ommunity conversations.鈥�
Tiffany Anderson, who arrived in Topeka, Kan., in July to be superintendent of the public schools, is making a name for herself as one of the best at standing up for the neediest students.
Rachel Brown headed to Kenya ahead of sensitive elections and an atmosphere of potential hate and violence. After a positive outcome there, she worked on a guidebook for the US Holocaust Memorial Museum called 鈥楧efusing Hate.鈥�
Jamila Afghani, who has battled discrimination since childhood, uses Islam to empower women in Afghanistan. She is committed to continuing the work despite threats and other obstacles.
When Shanti Raghavan鈥檚 brother started losing his sight, she began to learn about ways he could adjust. She then wanted to use that knowledge to assist others.
The reverberations are still being felt almost two years after April Reign created that hashtag, when Oscar nominations were announced. What will the new awards season bring?
Franklin Frake works for the Red Paw Emergency Relief Team, a Philadelphia nonprofit that provides assistance to displaced pets, and their owners, during and after a disaster involving their home.
Beau Heyen has brought a fresh outlook on addressing hunger to the Kansas City Community Kitchen and the broader metropolitan area.
William Baker started as an intern at the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and has been president since 1982. Recent findings indicate that bay cleanup processes are approximately halfway to their 2025 goal.
Rodney O鈥橬eill is carrying on a 40-plus-year tradition in Olympia, Wash., that was started by his mother. He, and more than 600 volunteers, also serve meals at Christmas and Easter.
Jes Ward is the executive director of cityWILD, which enables students in Denver to raft, backpack, mountain-bike, and snowshoe 鈥� while they also strive to reach their full potential.
In San Francisco, Laura Slattery and Tina Christopher open church doors to homeless people during the day. The women鈥檚 own lives have taken elaborate twists and turns.
Takehiko Yoshizawa鈥檚 Japan Car Sharing Association has aided residents since the 2011 tsunami. The effort expanded this year after twin earthquakes in southern Japan.
Haidar el Ali started out in his family鈥檚 furniture business but then dedicated his life to protecting the oceans and other habitats.
Laila Haidari founded a shelter in Kabul to help those struggling with addiction. Some 3,600 people, she says, have left the facility recovered.
Kathleen 鈥楥ass鈥� Cronan was a lawyer but found her work had limits. Now, as head of EarthLinks, she invites marginalized people to join a community that has an environmental focus.
Aabid Surti was irked when he saw water wasted by dripping taps. Now he鈥檚 visited 13,000 homes in the suburbs of Mumbai to fix leaks.
Anja Reefschl盲ger responded to an emergency call last year to help as refugees arrived in Berlin. Since then, she has become a second mother to many of them as they try to settle in.
Nadira Mingasson started the weaving enterprise Udru啪ene in Bosnia-Herzegovina. It鈥檚 given women participants a sense of community 鈥� and a source of income.
Carole Hyatt founded the nonprofit Mission: Getting to Next after meeting a retired female general who was struggling to find employment. To not allow such women to use their skills 鈥榠s a crime,鈥� she says.
With music, Timon Seibel gives the children a chance to express themselves and gain self-confidence. One heavy-metal band he manages recently won a grand prize in a contest.
Lonnie Bunch shares his love of history as the founding director of the National Museum of African American History and Culture, which opens in Washington Sept. 24.
